Should You Try a Dildo in 2022?
Manual masturbation is a common starting point for the majority of women, but after a while, many find themselves longing for something more. Vibrators are great for clitoral stimulation, but what about vaginal stimulation? It’s this great question that leads many ladies to try a dildo for the first time. Keep reading as we go over the history of dildos, explore some alternatives, explain the different variations of modern dildos, and tell you everything you’ll need to know before purchasing your first dildo!
A Brief History of Dildos Through the Ages
Perhaps unsurprisingly, dildos have been around in one form or another for thousands of years. The oldest dildo ever discovered was found in a German cave, and is estimated to be over 28,000 years old! Fast-forwarding a bit, dildos can also be seen in ancient Egypt (where women wore them to pay their respects to the god Osiris), in ancient Greece (where they were known as olisboi), and—more recently—the Renaissance. However, dildos saw opposition from English men in the 17thth century and American men in the 1800s. Both groups saw dildos as having the potential to dissuade their women from wanting to have sex, and both groups attempted to enact laws to prohibit the sale of dildos. Naturally, the dildo market simply went underground, resurfacing in the 1960s due to the sexual revolution, which rebranded masturbation as an acceptable, natural activity. These days, dildos are readily available from a large selection of online & offline retailers. There are many modern variations on the traditional dildo including vibrating dildos, double-ended dildos, and strap-on dildos: You can even buy a strapless dildo! However, many women seek alternatives before purchasing their first dildo.
The Alternative Options
If taking a dildo ride is on your mind but you don’t have one readily available, many women utilize common household items instead. Essentially any penis-shaped item will do, but here are a few of the popular choices:
● Phallic-shaped vegetables
● Brush handles
● Vibrating toothbrushes
● Bottles, and
● Markers
The last item on this list is a great example of why using an alternative option might not be a good idea: what if it leaks? Certainly, that’s a health risk! While anything penis-shaped can be used as a dildo, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s practical or safe to do so. If you do decide to use an alternative item, we strongly recommend looking into every possible thing that could go wrong before taking the plunge (or save yourself the trouble & just buy a dildo!).
Why Dildos Are Better
Dildos provide a safe way to have an orgasm, mainly because they’re designed specifically for sexual gratification! When using a dildo produced & purchased from a reputable company, you’ll never need to worry about potential safety hazards. Instead, you can simply focus on the task at hand. Dildos come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, which means you’ll need to shop around a bit before you find the toy that’s right for you. Whereas some women may prefer a realistic-looking dildo, others might long after a bright-pink, bendy silicone dildo instead. The options are nearly endless when it comes to finding the perfect dildo, but here are some major factors to consider during your search.
● Material – These sex toys can be made from many different materials including break-resistant glass, plastic, metal, rubber, and silicone. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, so which one you choose ultimately comes down to personal preference.
● Lubrication – Silicone-based lube should not be used with silicone sex toys as doing so may cause your toy to degrade (unless it’s made of medical-grade silicone). However, the sex toy industry is unregulated so there’s no way to know for sure if your toy will last long-term using silicone-based lubes. If your dildo is made of silicone, we recommend considering alternatives such as water or oil-based lubricants instead.
● Design – Whereas some dildos may opt for a realistic appearance, others may barely resemble an actual penis. Beyond color choice, you’ll also want to consider the physical design of your new toy. Thanks to the wide variety of ribbed, curved, suction-cup-equipped, strap-on, strapless, and double-ended dildos on the market today, you’ll certainly have plenty of options for your first dildo ride!
● Firmness – You might have thought that dildos only came in a single firmness, but that couldn’t be further from the truth! Although the material used certainly plays a role in the firmness of your new toy, variable firmness materials like silicone sometimes provide a “shore” rating, which helps you determine the firmness of the dildo. “Shore 00” (0 to 100) and “Shore AA” (0A to 100A) are the two metrics most often used. Unfortunately, since there isn’t a standardized metric across the industry, the rating provided will only be relative to a company’s own products, not products from their competitors.
● Vibration – If a simple dildo isn’t enough, many companies offer vibrating units! Some units only offer vaginal vibrations whereas others may also provide clitoral stimulation. The effectiveness of the vibrations varies by toy (and by individual) so we recommend reading multiple reviews before making an investment.
What Are You Waiting For?
If you’ve made it this far & still aren’t convinced yet then there’s likely one specific thing holding you back: the price. Fortunately, there are dildos available for as little as $14.99 up into the hundreds of dollars so it all depends on how much you’re willing to spend (and there’s no reason you can’t upgrade to a new toy in the future!). Don’t settle for subpar masturbation sessions. Instead, do yourself a favor & try a dildo!